Whole wheat flour
Whole wheat flour is a substance derived by grinding or mashing the Whole wheat grain. When baking with whole wheat, it can cause for a longer rise time. The word "whole" refers to the fact that all of the grain (bran, germ and endosperm) is used and nothing is lost in the process of making the flour. This is in contrast to white, processed flours, which contain only the endosperm, as a result making this flour less beneficial to your health. Because the whole flour contains the remains of all of the grain, it has a textured, brownish appearance, as well as keeping all of the essential nutritional benefits. "Brown" bread made from whole wheat flour is more nutritious than "white bread" made from white, refined flour, even though nutrients are added back to the white flour. This is because whole wheat bread is less refined, and retains more of the naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals. Wheat is a good source of calcium,Iron,fiber and other minerals like selenium.
Whole Wheat Kernels
A grain kernel consists of three parts: the innermost germ, the endosperm that surrounds the germ, and the bran that envelopes both. Most of the kernel’s nutrients are locked into the germ and bran. Whole grain products, therefore, provide us with the full nutrient content of the grain kernel.
In the production of “refined” grain products, however, modern high-speed, high-heat roller mills strip away the germ and bran, leaving only the starchy endosperm, which is then ground into flour of varying consistencies. What’s left after refining contains less than 25 percent of the grain kernel’s magnesium and zinc, and barely a trace of vitamin E. All other nutrients, including the B-complex vitamins, are also severely reduced. But B vitamins are required for the proper breakdown of carbohydrates in the body; without them, food cannot be properly metabolized. In their natural state whole grain kernels contain everything we need for their assimilation and metabolism.
Another vital constituent of whole grains is fibre, an indigestible carbohydrate that helps to increase bulk and softness of fecal matter. By optimally supporting digestive and metabolic processes in the body, fibre helps to prevent unwanted weight gain. It can also control blood sugar levels by slowing the rate food passes through the intestinal tract, resulting in a more gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream. A number of recent studies have shown that a diet rich in whole grains may lower the risk of type II diabetes.
A whole grain kernel contains all the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals required to nourish the body and promote good health. Refined foods enriched with synthetic vitamins and minerals offer little by comparison.
This is a great way to make a lot of your own products, by buying your own whole wheat kernels and grinding them fresh, it retains the original oil found in the wheat and also providing a better, fresher tasting product.
Wheat stimulates the liver to rid the body of toxins, supports the heart, spleen, and pancreas, and treats a range of stress-related symptoms. Wheat fosters growth, so it is good for children.
Kamut and spelt are wheat relatives. Kamut is high in protein content. Spelt, a winter wheat, is softer and its higher moisture content requires less liquid than wheat in home baking.
Barley is rich in protein, B vitamins, and fibre. Barley also helps lower blood cholesterol, reduce tumours, and is used to treat hepatitis.
Oats are high in silicon and are good for bones and connective tissues. A high fibre content makes them an excellent mild laxative.
Rye builds muscle and increases stamina. Of all the grains, it has the highest lysine content, the amino acid needed to create body proteins, which are important for recovery from surgery or injury.
Buckwheat is actually a member of the rhubarb family. It’s a small but growing portion of our organic crops whose distinctive flavour and no gluten make it great for the gluten-intolerant.
Flax helps strengthen the immune, thyroid, and adrenal systems and regulates the hormones. Flax seeds are also said to energize, improve skin and hair, and enrich the blood.
- Abra Brynne
Simone Gabbay is a registered nutritionist, writer, and editor in Toronto. She is the author of Nourishing the Body Temple (A.R.E. Press, 1999) and Visionary Medicine: Real Hope for Total Healing (A.R.E. Press, 2003).
Steel-cut oats
Steel-cut oats (also known as coarse-cut oats, pinhead oats, Scotch oats, or Irish oats) are whole grain groats (kernels) which have been cut into only two or three pieces. They are golden in color and resemble small rice in shape. Because the steel-cut oats are more "natural" with less processing, they may be more nutritious than the more popular rolled oats. Steel-cut oats are also nuttier and retain a chewier texture than rolled oats(why we prefer them). Many people feel that steel-cut oats provide better flavor than rolled oats due to the lack of preprocessing. The only draw back is these oats take longer to cook than pre-processed oats.
To cook these some say to soak overnight covered in water. Then cook 1 part oats to 4 parts liquid. Cook over stove for 15-20 minutes, or until desired texture.
Roobios Tea
Beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, irritability, headaches, stomach cramps, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension, liver diseases, allergies, cataracts, skin irritations and other conditions (especially when applied directly to the affect area), mellitus, atherosclerosis, and colic and feeding problems in infants. The list continues: nausea and vomiting, constipation, stomach ulcers, heartburn.
Low tannin content. (only 1 to 4 percent) Acts as a powerful antioxidant. (only 1 to 4 percent) Replenishes iron levels, which is especially helpful to breast-feeding or pregnant women. No negative side effects ever reported. Fresh from nature, meaning it is 100% organic, with no additives, preservatives, or colourants. Completely caffeine-free! Free from any harmful stimulants. Boosts the immune system. Can be mixed with milk, unlike other teas. Has a natural hint of sweetness, but also tastes great with honey, lemon, and many others! Contains no oxalic acid, allowing those suffering from kidney stones to drink it freely. Aids your body's natural schedule, relaxing you at night and stimulating you in the day. Delicious flavor! It's also Kosher!
| Nutrient Chart |
| NUTRIENT | FUNCTION IN THE BODY | PER 200ml |
| Iron (Fe) | Essential for transport of oxygen in the blood | 0.07mg |
| Potassium (K) | Necessary for metabolic function | 7.12mg |
| Copper (Cu) | Necessary for different metabolic processes | 0.07mg |
| Calcium (Ca) | Necessary for strong teeth and bones | 1.09mg |
| Manganese (Mn) | Necessary for metabolic processes and for bone development | 0.04mg |
| Fluoride (F) | Necessary for healthy teeth and bones | 0.22mg |
| Zinc (Zn) | Necessary for normal growth and development and a healthy skin | 0.04mg |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Necessary for a healthy nervous system and for metabolic processes | 1.57mg |
| Sodium (Na) | Necessary for fluid and acid-base balance | 6.16mg |
General Facts of Roobios Tea
- Children love it!
- Roobios is sold in almost every health food store in the United Kingdom.
- World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) awarded a gold medal to Roobios in 1997 for its anti-allergic properties.
- Annekie Theron, attributed with the first medical breakthrough with Roobios, received the Woman Inventor of the Year award, and developed a Roobios extract that is used in cosmetic and health care products worldwide.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is one of the world's oldest medicinal herbs. It has a variety of uses, including increasing breastmilk production. Fenugreek seeds are ground and roasted and used to flavor to curry. The seeds are also soaked and then powdered and used to make lip balm and tonic. The seeds can be used to make tea, which can reduce fever and menstrual pains, or they can be used in an ointment to treat skin infections. The seeds have also been used to increase libido in men and serve as an aphrodisiac. Ground seeds are often used to give a maple flavor to sweets and candies. Ground seeds are also used to flavor cattle food, including different vegetable meals and hays. Fenugreek's leaves, which are high in iron, are used in salads. Taken internally, fenugreek is used to treat bronchitis, coughs, respiratory problems, sinus conditions and to increase milk supply. Fenugreek seeds contain hormone precursors that increase milk supply. Scientists do not know for sure how this happens. Some believe it is possible because breasts are modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production. It has been found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mother's milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb. Once an adequate level of milk production is reached, most women can discontinue the fenugreek and maintain the milk supply with adequate breast stimulation. Many women today take fenugreek in a pill form (ground seeds placed in capsules). The pills can be found at most vitamin and nutrition stores and at many supermarkets and natural foods stores. Fenugreek can also be taken in tea form, although tea is believed to be less potent than the pills and the tea comes with a bitter taste that can be hard to stomach.
Oolong Tea
There are hundreds of different varieties of tea made from the tea bush, Camellia sinensis, but almost all of them fall into three main categories. These are black teas, which are fully oxidised before drying by a careful withering process; green teas, which are dried quickly while unoxidised; and Oolongs, which are somewhere in the middle and combine the best qualities of both.
A good Oolong is both refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite distinct from anything you get with green or black tea - from the delicate, nearly-green Pouchong through rich and subtle mid-range Oolongs like Ti Kuan Yin and on to teas which border on black.
The average cup of Oolong has around half as much caffeine as a cup of black tea, and about half again as much as a cup of green tea.
Although they combine features of black and green teas, their flavour has little in common with either. Unless over-brewed, most Oolongs show almost no trace of bitterness, and generally have a stronger aroma than almost any green or black tea.
Like other tea, Oolong is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. These help prevent cancer, keep the heart healthy and aid general well-being.
Pau d'arco
Right there in the forests of South America is a herb known for its many healing qualities, particularly its curative effects on cancer patients and other diseases. This herb is what we call Pau d'arco, derived from the inner bark of the Taheebo tree, scientifically known as Tabebuia Avellanedae or Tabebuia Impetiginosa. It is said that the practice of using this herb dates back to the time of the ancient Incas and Aztecs, the first inhabitants of South America. No wonder in South America alone, we also find accounts of Pau d'arco's healing wonders.
There are many uses of Pau d'arco. Research has been done in the 1960's and the 1970's on pau d'arco to verify the medicinal claims of this herb. Research, particularly that carried out by the U.S. National Cancer Institute proved that if not preventing or delaying cancer, Pau d'arco, actually treats cancer in very astounding ways. However, oral doses of the herb have to reach useful levels in the blood, therefore causing some side effects. That's why dosages were stopped in some patients.
In the abovementioned studies, lapachol, a chemical element strongly present in Pau d'arco, is shown to be active against the malaria parasite. If you have a compromised immune system, this herb may just be the right one for you. In controlled doses its active chemicals are said to invigorate the immune system. Too much Pau d'arco could lead to a weak immune system. At present, scientists are still perplexed by the healing qualities of this herb. More research has yet to be done about this.
Pau d'arco has been found more effective that pharmaceutical medication by many people. Not only does the herb have antifungal, antiprotozoal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, it has also been a cure for inflammations, skin injuries, psoriasis, and even vaginal yeast infections. In some parts of South America, it is even used as a mouthwash, again, because of its antibacterial quality.
In taking the herb, take note of its side effects. Heavy use of Pau d'arco may result in the loss of red blood cells, thus, causing anemia. Anemia usually results in fatigue, cool, pale skin, an abnormal heartbeat and breathing patterns. Associated with lapachol, lesser side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Author: Patricia McDougall
Stevia
Stevia leaves have been used for 1500 years by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay as a soothing tonic for the stomach and as a healing concentrate when cooked in water. This white, crystalline powder is approximately 300 times sweeter than cane sugar. Research has shown that the body does not digest or metabolize these intensely sweet glycosides. They are not converted into glucose in the body and, therefore have a glycemic index of 0. This makes stevia a most valuable sweetening source for those with sugar restrictions, such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, or weight control.
Today, stevioside has a 52% share of the commercial sweetener market in Japan and is rapidly becoming the favored sweetener in China and throughout the Orient. In fact, China has become the major grower and processor of the stevia plant. Most stevia farmers cultivate their plants without the use of pesticides and under the conditions required for organic certification.
Presently, the FDA will only allow stevia products to be distributed as a dietary supplement. Despite sweeping toxicology tests and widespread global use without incidence of adverse reaction, stevia has yet to be approved as a food source by the FDA. They rejected two comprehensive petitions submitted in the 1990s, citing insufficient proof of stevia's safety. Paradoxically, the FDA-approved sweetener, aspartame, receives one of the highest number of consumer complaints made to the FDA. Consequently, because of this ruling, stevia is sold only in the nutritional supplement section in health food stores.
Studies have indicated that stevia tends to lower elevated blood pressure while not affecting people with normal blood pressure.
Stevia inhibits the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria and other infectious organisms. Regular users of stevia as a mouthwash or for brushing teeth
(added to toothpaste) have reported an improvement to bleeding gum problems. This inhibition of oral bacteria may explain why users of stevia-enhanced products
report a lower incidence of colds and flu. Subsequently, an increasing number of toothpaste manufacturers are now using stevia in their products.
When applied externally stevia poultices and extracts have been observed to have therapeutic effect on acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema. Extracts placed directly in cuts and wounds, have demonstrated rapidly healing without scarring.
Other benefits of adding stevia to the daily diet include improved digestion and soothed upset stomachs.
Stevia is also an exceptional aid in weight loss management because it contains no calories and reduces the craving for sweets and fatty foods. Steviosides, the principle sugar molecule component of stevia, pass through the human alimentary canal without being altered by digestive processes, demonstrating remarkable stability. They simply cannot be broken down into their metabolites under normal gastric conditions. As a result, the sugar molecules pass unchanged through the human gastrointestinal tract and are not absorbed into the blood, producing no calories. Preliminary research indicates that stevia may actually reset the hunger mechanism in people where the pathway between the hypothalamus and the stomach has become obstructed. In other words, it clears the communication pathway between the stomach and the brain, reducing hunger sensations faster.
Real Salt
The problem with salt is not the salt itself but the condition of the salt we eat! Our regular table salt no longer has anything in common with real salt. Salt now a day is mainly sodium chloride and not salt. With the advent of industrial development, our natural salt was "chemically cleaned" and reduced only to sodium and chloride. Major producing companies dry their salt in huge kilns with temperatures reaching 1200 degrees F, changing he salt's chemical structure, which in turn adversely affects the human body. The common table salt we use for cooking has only 2 or 3 chemical elements. The sea salt has 84 chemical elements. Some of these include: Complex Chlorides 98.32%, Calcium .40%, Potassium .12%, Sulfur .11%, Magnesium .10%, Iron .06%, Phosphorus .05%, Iodine .002%, Manganese .0015%, Copper .001%, Zinc .0006%. For our body to be healthy we need all of the elements. When we use the common salt, we are in deficit of 81 elements which means we are somehow contributing to becoming weaker, imbalanced and more susceptible to diseases. Use the seawater salt. Real salt is pure unrefined sea salt. Real salt is real, unaltered, untreated salt. It is a truly natural salt endowed by nature with valuable minerals necessary for good health. 
Salt is a vital substance for the survival of all living creatures, particularly humans. Water and salt regulate the water content of the body. Water itself regulates the water content of the interior of the cell by working its way into all of the cells it reaches. It has to get there to cleanse and extract the toxic wastes of cell metabolisms. Salt forces some water to stay outside the cells. It balances the amount of water that stays outside the cells. There are two oceans of water in the body; one ocean is held inside the cells of the body, and the other ocean is held outside the cells. Good health depends on a most delicate balance between the volume of these oceans, and this balance is achieved by salt - unrefined salt.
Don't tease about teas!
Our family loves tea and even before we knew much about it, we would drink it constantly. Growing up tea was a summer beverage and as our young family has developed, we continue to embrace it for our own. Overtime we have learned some great things about the effects tea has on our bodies. Below and in detail I would like to carefully discuss some varieties of teas I think you will take great interest in.
Tea is among the richest natural sources of antioxidants. You may ask what are antioxidants, and what do they do to my health? Well, naturally occurring antioxidants are found in most plants, fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants found in Green tea and Black tea are 8 to 10 times greater in polyphenols, or antioxidants, than that of fruits and vegetables. First, let me explain that the process of breaking down food for energy creates free radicals and perioxides in your body happens everyday. Antioxidants help your body keep these harmful substances in check. They bind free radicals and peroxides both of which are oxygen containing molecules in your body that can damage your DNA, lipid and protein.
All teas are rich in antioxidants, including a class of antioxidants called flavonoids. White tea contains the most antioxidants of the teas that come from the Camellia Sinenis plant. The highest concentration of antioxidants found in any one tea are contained in Roobios. Antioxidants have been linked with cancer prevention, decreased risk of strokes and reducing blood cholestrol. Scientific research shows that tea and tea flavonoids strengthen the body's immune system, protect teeth by preventing plaque bacteria, fight free radicals, and increase calories burned during everyday activities.
The first of these I would like to futher discuss is White tea. White tea comes from the Camellia Sinenis Plant. White tea is havested from the buds and young tea leaves, shortly before the buds have fully opened. This tea is minimally processed by lightly steaming or sometimes just drying the leaves. For this reason, white tea retains the greatest levels of antioxidants and the lowest levels of caffeine than any other tea from the camellia sinenis plant. It is very effective in ridding the body of free radicals and it is known for its anti-aging and skin protecting properties.
Next on the list is Green tea. Green tea is also made by steaming, rather than fermenting the tea leaves, and because of that it is able to retain the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, or (EGCG). EGCG has been proven to inhibit cancer cell growth as well as kill active cancer cells without harming any healthy tissue. It is effective in lowering cholestrol levels, reducing the risk of Heart Attacks and strokes. Research also supports that drinking green tea also improves the ratio of good (HDL) cholestrol to bad (LDL) cholestrol. Green tea also contains fluoride helping to prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria that causes plaque.
Oolong tea comes between Green tea and Black tea. Oolong tea is a partially fermented tea and contains the flavor and health benefits of both Green tea and Black tea. One distinct difference is that during the final stage of processing, the leaves are twisted giving them a larger, stringyer appearance than black teas. Some true tea lovers often rave over Oolong partly because is contains qualities of both Black and Green tea. Recent studies done on Oolong tea were most interesting. In comparison, Oolong appeared to increase energy expenditure by 10%, green tea by 4% and water not at all. The conclusion drawn was that you burn more fat when you drink oolong tea versus green tea after a meal. This is mainly due to the higher levels of polyphenols found in oolong tea than those found in green tea. The study also found that oolong tea has half the caffeine of green tea and only half the levels of EGCG, green teas cancer killing compound. Oolong tea still has high number of antioxidants, which help to protect healthy skin cells and slow the aging pocess.
What could then be said of Black tea? Well, for staters regular consumption of black tea reduces the risk of stroke. High levels of antioxidants in Black tea have been found to not only improve artery function, but also to lower the risks of cancers. They have the ability to stop oxidation which damages DNA and turns normal cells into cancer cells. Black tea can also help prevent tooth decay. It contains fluoride and works better than the antibiotic tetracycline. Tea also fights bacteria in the mouth that causes gum disease and cavity causing bacteria. Black tea is known for its therapuetic effects on gastric and intestinal illnesses. The longer processing of black tea generates a full bodied, robustier flavor than those of Green tea and Oolong tea. The oxidation that the leaves undergo to make black tea converts the simple flavonoids into more complex varieties called theaflavins and thearubigins.
Last of all we come to Roobios tea. Roobios comes from a shrub in South Africa. It is naturally caffeine free making it an excellent choice for Pregnant and Nursing mothers. Studies have shown that it has anti HIV activity, has the potential to protect the body from tumors and may protect against brain damage. Roobios contains almost no oxalic acid, which makes it good for people prone to kidney stones. Roobios contains the following minerals: fluoride, zinc, copper, potassium, iron, calcium, alphahydroxy, manganese and magnesium. The tea can also be applied to help alleviate the following skin conditions: itchy skin, eczema, acne, diaper rash and sunburns. It contains antioxidants which help to slow the aging process and boost the immune system. Roobios has also been shown to aid in some health issues like irritability, nervous tension, insomnia, headaches and hypertension. More studies have also shown this tea contains antispasmodic agents which can relieve stomach cramping and colic in infants. Since Roobios contains no colors, additives or preservatives it makes and excellent all around good natural beverage.
Looking at the effects and benefits tea has on our bodies, I've come to believe it was designed by God for our use. I almost can't believe how much good comes out of just a couple of plants. It will definetly be our life long drink. Here's to tea!
Health Poll Survey
The question states which aspect of your health are you most concerned with?
1. Blood Pressure? Blood Pressure is very important. It needs to be regulated and regulated well. Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. Failure to maintain Healthy Blood pressusre can result in Hypertension or high blood pressure, or Hypotension, refered to as low blood pressure. The slightest variation in stress, nutrition, drugs and disease can affect your blood pressure. I can't necessarily give you all the answers to fixing your health, but can tell you that using Realsalt as opposed to traditional table salt can improve your Blood pressure. As stated above realsalt is 100% all natural and is not refined and striped of all its natural goodness. It also contains less sodium than table salt making it a better choice for your blood pressure and yourself. Change for the better today!
2. Sugar levels? Sugar is another very important thing to take into consideration every day. Refined sugar is virtually lethal when ingested by humans because it provides only that which nutritionists describe as "empty" or "naked" calories. It lacks the natural minerals which are present in the sugar beet or cane. In addition, sugar is worse than nothing because it drains and leaches the body of precious vitamins and minerals through the demand of its digestion, detoxification and elimination that it makes upon one's entire system. Balance is so essential to our bodies that we may have many ways to protect against the sudden shock of a heavy intake of sugar. Minerals such as sodium (from salt), potassium and magnesium (from vegetables), and calcium (from the bones) are mobilized and used in chemical transmutation; neutral acids are produced which attempt to return the acid-alkaline balance factor of the blood to a more normal state. Sugar taken every day produces a continuously overacid condition, and more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance. Finally, in order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin. Excess sugar eventually affects every organ in the body. Initially, it is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver's capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas: the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs. My advice would be to use refined sugars as little as possible. Raw sugar is a better source seeing how it still retains the natural elements and minerals that are stripped out of refined sugars. Another great sorce for diabetics is Stevia. Stevia is described in detail above. Stevia is an all natural calorie and sugar free sweetner.
